PAHO warns of new epidemic cycle of dengue regionally

2:56 pm, Fri August 16, 2019

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is warning of a complex situation of dengue in the Caribbean and Latin America which are currently experiencing a new epidemic cycle of the disease after two years of low incidence.

According to the latest PAHO epidemiological update, published on August 9, during the first seven months of 2019, more than two million people contracted the disease and 723 died.

PAHO said the number of cases exceeds the total reported in 2017 and 2018, although so far, it remains lower than the number recorded in 2015-2016.

The organisation said the climate, environmental management and the mosquito's capacity to adapt may have caused the situation to increase in complexity.

According to PAHO, what is also worrying is that the disease is mostly affecting children under the age of 15.

It is urging the elimination of mosquito breeding sites, particularly those around the home.

It said health professionals should also be trained to diagnose and adequately manage patients with dengue and other arboviruses such as Zika and Chikungunya.